Have you been missing that international holiday this year? Never fear, there are many great places to holiday closer to home, that will bring you the same feeling of rest and relaxation that your overseas trip would! Take a look at these top five places to holiday in Queensland and you’re sure to be booking your next trip in no time!
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Top 5 Queensland Holiday Spots
1. Great Barrier Reef
We have all heard of the Great Barrier Reef, so if you have only seen this Australian icon in pictures, it’s time to go visit the real thing! Home to a vast array of sea life, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system with almost 3,000 individual reefs, 900 islands, and spanning an area of 2,600km – it really is an amazing and beautiful place. There are many places to stay while you are visiting this World Heritage site, such as Cairns, Airlie Beach, and Lizard Island.
2. Hamilton Island
Surrounded by the Barrier Reef, Hamilton Island deserves it’s own special mention. Known for its carless streets, exclusive accommodation, and year-round tropical climate, it is the ultimate luxury Queensland getaway.
The first thing that must be mentioned when talking about Hamilton Island, is of course, it’s famous buggies. On the Island, residents and tourists alike get around on golf buggies which really adds to the Islands special charm. You can rent two or four person buggies either daily, or longer term if you would like to use it for the whole duration of your trip. Once you have your buggy secured, you can participate in the Islands buggy rally! This family friendly activity has you driving around and answering trivia questions which in turn take you to a different location on the island.
Of course, being an island a favourite activity among holiday goers here is taking a swim, whether that the in one of the many pools scattered around the island (some including swim up bars), Catseye Beach, or more secluded options such as Hideaway Bay, Coral Cove or Whitehaven Beach.
3. Brisbane
Although Brisbane is the third most populous city in Australia, it boasts a unique mix of city convenience with laid back lifestyle, that makes it the perfect holiday destination. With areas such as South Bank where you will find a man-made beach within a botanical garden, to the famous Wheel of Brisbane which gives you amazing views of this charming city there is something for everyone here. Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, as well as the Roma Street parkland are the perfect spots to relax and soak up the sunshine or enjoy a picnic.
Out of all the capital cities in Australia, Brisbane gives the most authentic Australian flavour, and what better way to experience this than a visit to Australia Zoo. Famous for its legendary owner Steve Irwin, Australia Zoo is a place where you can learn about and visit native wildlife, including crocodiles!
There’s also plenty of things to do after dark in Brisbane. Visit the city’s party district, Fortitude Valley and dance the night away in one of its many iconic nightclubs.
4. Gold Coast
Just an hour’s drive south of Brisbane lies the Gold Coast, one of Australia’s most famous travel destinations. Start your trip in typical Gold Coast fashion, with the sun, sand, and sea, at Surfers Paradise Beach. Once you’ve soaked up the beach atmosphere, grab a bite to eat and explore the many nearby shops that line the nearby streets.
If you visit on a Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday night, you can also browse the Surfers Paradise Beachfront markets which boasts more than a hundred stalls full of bargains waiting to be snapped up. While you’re on the Gold Coast, you can’t forget about its arguably most popular attractions, Movieworld, Seaworld, Dreamworld, and WhiteWater World. For those interested in visiting just one of these fun filled parks there are single park tickets available, or if you’re wanting to experience the magic of all the parks there are combination ticket passes you can purchase that will save you money.
5. Noosa
Noosa is just a short 1.5hrs drive north of Brisbane and boasts beautiful white sand beaches, untouched wetlands, national park and also great shopping and dining. Protected by the Noosa Headland, the main town of Noosa is filled with boutique shops and cosy coffee shops perfect for sitting back and doing some quality people watching.
Noosa is a popular holiday destination for people from all over Australia and can get very busy during holiday periods so it plans to book well in advance. There are plenty of holiday accommodation options from hostels and camp grounds, to 5 star hotels and waterfront Noosa River holiday houses.